Stray rhino spotted at Onkani

People at Onkani village in the Otamanzi constituency of the Omusati Region have reported seeing a stray rhino in their area.

This has been confirmed by Otamanzi councillor Johannes Iiyambo and the Onkani mobile police unit.

A police officer said they were not allowed to talk to the media about the case.

There is concern that poachers might kill the rhino.

“We went there and saw the animal standing under a tree,” Namibian Sun was told.

“We are suspecting that the rhino escaped from Etosha National Park, which is about 80 kilometres away. We will be monitoring the animal until nature conservation officials arrive. We reported it to their office in Ongwediva,” the police officer said. Councillor Iiyambo added that nature conservation officials had informed Etosha staff and they were also en route.

The animal was not a threat to anyone at the moment, he said.

The spokesperson of the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said they were still verifying with officials at Etosha.

Two months ago Ongandjera farmers in the same region shot and killed six lions that had escaped from Etosha, claiming that the lions had killed their cattle. These farmers are under investigation by the environment ministry.